Public Relations & Communications Assistant en Jones Walker LLP

Description

The Public Relations & Communications Assistant is a non-exempt position in the Marketing & Client Development (MCD) Department. This role is responsible for supporting the PR & Communications team by assisting with the drafting and organizing of internal and external communications, including news items for the website and firm’s intranet, the firm’s internal newsletter, and other announcements. This person also assists with the crafting and posting of content to the firm’s social media pages as needed and collaborates with the recruiting team for the firm’s Instagram content. This position is responsible for assisting with the tracking and reporting on the firm’s news coverage and other PR results. This role supports the PR team with the execution of active communication strategies around thought leadership and business development efforts. This position can be filled in either our New Orleans office or our Baton Rouge office.

Requirements

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Assists the PR team with drafting news items for the website, intranet, and monthly newsletter through ClickUp, the MCD’s project management platform
• Assists with drafting press releases, award nominations, and internal email announcements 
• Helps with creating and scheduling social media posts on the firm’s LinkedIn and Facebook accounts including collaborating with graphic designer on graphics and editing existing templates in Adobe Express that are consistent with the firm’s branding and style guide; posts regularly to promote the firm and attorneys, and carries out content strategies around firm news, attorney thought leadership activities, community involvement, client alerts and newsletters, and relevant evergreen content 
• Assists with attorney education, onboarding, and utilization of Passle, a scalable thought leadership platform utilized for content creation and distribution
• Assists with the coordination of ongoing firm-wide LinkedIn education programs to provide firm attorneys with best practices and working knowledge of the LinkedIn platform 
• Assists the PR team with executing PR Plans for the firm’s regional offices, industry sector teams, practice teams, and strategic efforts
• Helps with obtaining information about, drafting, and gaining approval for news items for the firm’s internal newsletter, the JW Watch, by interacting with responsible lawyers and marketing team members to develop final content
• Monitors daily news coverage, and identifies firm-related items from Meltwater, LexisNexis, Google, Law360, and other sources
• Assists with identifying opportunities for attorneys to speak about and publish on strategic thought leadership topics, and helps with the coordination of opportunities, including the deadlines, writing support, bios, headshots, etc.
• Supports the award and accolade nomination process for attorneys and marketing team members
• Works with external consultants to drive the press release distribution process – including coordination of sends to regional and national media for distribution and creation of reports on placement and coverage 
• Creates and maintains media lists and media coverage in Meltwater database 
• Assists with monitoring, logging, and securing article reprint posting rights and helps negotiate usage rights with publishers
• Performs research on reporters, editorial calendars, publications, awards and accolades, and other editorial opportunities 

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies that are essential functions of this position:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral 
• Enjoys writing with proficiency in self-editing and proofreading
• Remarkable attention to detail – specifically with written material 
• Ability to develop and deliver a high volume of work product, with a flexible and self-motivated, yet team-oriented attitude
• Highly motivated and able to handle multiple responsibilities in tandem
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to approach challenges with a positive mindset 
• Creative and strategic in approach to creating content
• Experience with social media platforms in a professional setting
• Ability to adapt to new technology quickly and enthusiastically 
• Must thrive in a fast-paced environment, yet remain calm under multiple/tight deadlines
• Willingness to work extended hours as needed

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) in Journalism, Public Relations, or Mass Communication from a four-year college or university
• Thorough understanding of the Microsoft Office Suite – including specifically Excel and PowerPoint – and a working knowledge of PRNewswire, Meltwater, Adobe programs, and other applicable software
• Knowledge of law firm operations, legal practice area(s), and legal vocabulary is a plus
• One to two years of PR/Communications experience required

This job description is only meant to be a representative summary of the major responsibilities and accountabilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.